Sailor killed in Malta car accident

A serving sailor from the North West has died after being hit by a car in Malta.

The Royal Navy confirmed that Leading Engineering Technician Simon Allen, 30, died on September 13 after the accident in a town west of the capital Valletta.

LET Allen, from Aspull in Wigan, was sailing aboard the HMS Daring which had stopped off on the Mediterranean island as the ship made its way to a deployment in the Middle East.

A spokesman for The Royal Navy said: “LET Allen’s next of kin have been informed and our thoughts and condolences are with them at this difficult time.

“Police in Malta are investigating the incident. It would be inappropriate for us to discuss any further at this time.”

It is believed that LET Allen was hit by a car in Msida, a harbour town west of the capital of Valletta. Emergency services were called at about 1am and Mr Allen was taken to hospital where he later died.

Maltese police are now investigating the incident.

A statement by Maltese police said: “A 30-year-old English man has unfortunately lost his life in Triq Mikiel Anton Vassalli, in Msida.

“Preliminary police investigations found that the man was hit by a Peugeot 508 driven by a 42-year-old residing in Bormla. The vehicle was being driven in the direction from Msida to Santa Venera. ‘

“The man was assisted on site by a medical team and later taken to Mater Dei Hospital where he was certified dead shortly after.

“Duty magistrates were informed about the case and appointed an inquiry. District police are investigating the case.”

HMS Daring left Portsmouth on Friday, September 2, to start nine months in the Gulf. She will be providing air defence for American aircraft carriers as they launch bombing runs on Islamic State terrorist targets in Iraq and Syria.

A inquest into LET Allen’s death was opened at Bolton Coroners Court yesterday, Wednesday.